Stop mechanism for sorters



Dec. 27, 1949 A. G. SEIPOS STOP MECHANISM FOR SORTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 26. 1945 INVENTOR. Andrew G. Seipos M N MQ ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1949 E s 2,492,664

STOP MECHANISM FOR SORTERS Filed Oct. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Andrew G. Seipos w/ML ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1949 STOP MECHANISM FOR SORTERS Andrew G. Seipos, Jackson Heights, N. Y., as-

signor to Control Instrument Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 26, 1945, Serial No. 624,879

This invention relates to improvements in statistical card machines and has particular reference to an automatic stop mechanism therefor.

Although the invention may be adapted to various types of punch card machines, it is especially designed for use in the sorting machine disclosed in the co-pending application of Karl J. Braun, Serial No. 565,108, filed November 25, 1944, now issued as Patent No. 2,454,628, dated November 23, 1948.

In prior automatic stop devices, it has been known to provide separate controls for stopping the machine under different conditions, such as when the last card of a stack in the magazine has been fed. therefrom and through the sensing position, and when a predetermined maximum number of cards have been deposited into any one of the pockets of the machine. In the first circumstance, it is desirable to delay the stopping of the machine until all analyzed cards which have not reached their respective pockets, at the moment of card exhaustion, are deposited into said pockets, while under the second condition, the machine is stopped immediately upon a pocket becoming filled.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to accomplish both 01" the aforesaid functions by utilizing improved mechanisms which are operatively connected with a common control element to stop the machine drive.

In connection with the first of said functions, the operation of said control element is governed by a timing unit common to all the pockets of the machine and adapted, in response to selective operations made therein under the influence of the sensing mechanism, to control the distribution of the cards into their respective pockets. To utilize said timing unit to automatically control the stopping of the machine drive after a predetermined interval following exhaustion of cards of the magazine, or upon failure of a card to reach the sensing position during normal operation of the machine, the sensing mechanism again performs a selecting operation in the timing unit and, as a result of such selection, the afore- Claims. (01. 192-125) responsive to a filling of any one of them to operate the above mentioned control element.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for purposes of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawings; but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are employed only to facilitate the description of the invention as a whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference to be had to the appended claims for this purpose:.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and shown in section, or a card sorting machine, illustrating the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view showing the automatic stop mechanism.

The invention is illustrated in its adaptation to the machine described in the above identified patent to which reference is made for a complete description of the construction and operation of the machine. Briefly, cards are fed from a magazine 3!) to a continuously rotating sensing mechanism A which analyses the cards in transit through the sensing position and, in so doing, performs a selective operation in the rotary timing unit C that controls the distribution of the cards into their respective pockets 34 each containing a movable card support 41, said cards being transmitted from the sensing position to said pockets by the endless conveyor D. Said sensing mechanism and timing unit are driven in opposite directions by a timing shaft 28 connected to a motor (not shown) by the drive 29, and the operation of said motor is controlled, in a manner to later appear, by a switch 206 shown in its open position in Fig. 1, and closed in Fig. 2.

As shown in said patent, the sensing unit A comprises a wheel 33 capable of columnar adjustment and carrying four groups of pins, each group containing eleven sensing pins I05 and an additional detector pin I96, the latter being the first pin of the group to reach the sensing position and determining whether or not there is a card at said position to thereby control the subsequent operation of the machine. In the event the pin I06 engages a card, then the analysis of said card proceeds so that it will be deposited into its proper pocket, but if there is no card at the sensing position when the pin I06 reaches the same, said pin detects such condition and initiates an operation, through a spring-urged detector slide I01, which prevents the following sensing pins I05 from efiecting a selective operation in the timing unit C by the locking of all of the other device sen individualt h correspon and. so ar n ed. l ns tudina lyon a 3 slides I08 associated with said detector slide. It will later appear how, in accordance with the present invention, this same failure of the detector pin to engage a card is utilized to open the switch 2% and thus stop the machine. A selecting operation in the timing unit C is accomplished when one of the sensing pins H35 passes through a punched index point. .As this occurs, the slide l08,'sim'ilar to the slide EB? and individual to said index point, is spring-urged outwardly to similarly actuate the then opposed latch bar or interposer l5] of a,.grou p of eleven of such bars associated with a similarly numbered group of cams [46 of the timing; unit whichare then passing the sensing position in the cyclic; operation of said unit, the start :o'fa-cycle being when any one of said groups .of cams is at the sensing position and said cyclebeing terminated when said group again reaches said position. .As each of the twelve groups of such cams of the .ti-mlngunit; approaches, saidsensing position, they are moved radially outward. against spring .tension by a stationary cam l56 located directly above the shaftfifl of the timing-unitsothat the lug IE3 of therselected bar [5! will be positioned in vertical alignment with the'cam M6 .whichis individual to the punched-i dex point and which subsequently ,controlsthe opening of the pocket into which theanalyzedcard is to be deposited. h n the of esr u pa r the sensing position, all of them, with the exception of the one which has, beenselected by the projection of a latch .bar ri5 l,.i ecede totheir normal positions ras they leave the stationary cam i56, and the selected cam I45 is retained inits raised o radianrimiac :i sitienJay l e 53 o the operated latch bar, since said lug-is then directly under the outeixro iq Said c m and supports timsu h p ition u t lthe end ofthe cycle of the t mes un tis approa he A th located againreachesthesens n position. Ar-

"ran e a t. t e rotatin n tar r ha s Haea' h, as i n i-rtQ meet: the po k ts of the machine. Each ocker shaft carries. a trip ns pocke be. he mi et-moveme t o the se ecte am 145 of any One of thetwelye groups which is also individual to:,-sai.d..po k.e Assam.- ca r a he he. trip dev e: in its..-pa h.-t e o le 92 of: sa d devic s en a e; b he cam. re ul ing in h shaft asv to islides I88 of the group are locked so as to prevent r ckin ofthe-shaft. on which-said devi i moun -Ther upoman o cilla ory m mber of a dist utin mec ni m. how i aid, pa t.

.is-actuated'to operatethe link I85, associated with the pocket for which-the sensed card is-destin d- :Because of the: spacing of the trip devices about the rotating. groups of e rns, the link I85. is oper- In connection with, the-automatic stopping of :the machine .due toexhanstionofthe card suppl .in the magazine:39 and consequent, failure of..a .cardto reach thezsensingrposition, the present invention involves theadditionof atwelfth cam tel-shown astthe-innermost, cam :in .each of the .groups'in the timing unit-4A, and also the provision. of a itwelfth. latch ban oriinterposer 5288 ..a selective, operation in the timing unit. In the machine of the patent, the control of the slides r108 .is' the sole function of the slide I07 since it has no. corresponding latch bar associated therewith. However -in the present instance, the slide -.LEJ,1hastheladditional function, when it is projected outwardly, of causing a selection of the added ..:cam 20? of the raised group passing through the sensing position. Thus, When said ,d ec orzslid I01 slp eieete l utward-1 q'm s le io n a e and sim a ly m re the la h ba this; occ rr n wh n e m ddle group ofi am la; Wn. us ior to a seiectioais p ss g th ough said se s g De ition. The actuated latchbar 208 then assumes t p si i hown i the l ft han gro so tha its lugZliQ willv be. disposed directly beneath the head of the earn-ZQ'l-Ztq.prevent it from receding with the other cams I46 as the-latterpass fro n n a m n h thestati nary cam 156- The Selected-cam 12,61, 1- ch; subsequently Controlsthe st nnin of th t e f er ap sdfiflm ned interval r of i ha t nsed. i is-tb s r tain d-in its operative posi on :nntil after itv has ac,- complished its fu on, whereupon the outer en o h at hrber .08 'i ens e b h t ti a-r cam s an res o to o m l to r ase said car n -2111.

The interval between the. selection of the cam 20'! and thepointlin ts ,QYCIBQQI rotation where it .becomes.,,operative to ,stop the. machine, utilizedto permit. anycardswhich have been analyzedprior ,tothe selection of said cam 20'! to reach their respective pocketsso thatthe convveyor D will be cleared of, cards when the machine is stopped. 1T0 accomplish,thispurpose, anaddionalrock shafti i. milar .toth ha ts Hi5, etc.,fis located at a;point beyond the last rocker shaft H5. and supports a trip arm 2 having a roller 212 at one end whichis adapted to be .eneas by heproi c e .camr l o any one of the groups inch dedjn'the timing unit. As will be seenfthis engagement occurs after all the previously analyzed "cards have been deposited into their respective"pockets,- and when the shaft 210 is-rocked by'such engagement an arm 213 secured theretodepresses a link-2 14. At its lower end, said=link isjoined toan-arm2l5 secured on the switch control shaft 2I6 so that the latter also isrocked inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. This movement of said shaft lifts the arm'ElTsecured to it at one extremity thereof to thereby permit'separation'of the contaets'of the-switch 206 by-thet-spr-ing zll' -to open the circuitof the -motorwhich 'drives the machine. :A toggle spring H8 is connected to the arm 2H .andafter the latter has been raised by the shaft -2'l6:to a point. past-the dead: center, said spring will. act to yieldably retain said -armin l raised position until a manually operable switch, presently to be described, is operated-to reverse the .direction of rotation of: the shaft 2l6 and thereby. lower said. arm Z l1 .to again.- close the icontactsizllfi.

I Said manually operated switch is mounted upon one of the side plates of the machine adjacent the magazine 30 and is coupled to the control shaft 2l6 so that the machine may be started and stopped at the will of the operator. Said switch comprises a push button 219 having a plunger extension 220 guided in its movements by the stationary pins 22l and pivotally connected at its lower end to the upper extremity of an oscillatory arm 222 the lower end of which has an operating head 223. Associated with said head is a toggle lever 224 in the form of a plate having lateral extensions 225 at its upper end adapted.

for alternate engagement with the extremities of said operating head whereby said lever 224 is rocked in opposite directions each time the button 219 is depressed. Said lever 224 is fixed upon the adjacent end of the control shaft 2l6 so as to alternately turn said shaft in opposite directions when the lever is actuated by said depression of said button 2l9. Also, when the shaft H6 is operated automatically to stop the machine, the lever 224 will be shifted to properly position one of its extensions 225 relative to an extremity of the head 223 so that said lever will be actuated, when the button 2l9 is again depressed, to turn shaft 216 in the direction to close the switch contacts 206. Pivoted intermediate its ends, at 222, to the head 223, is a lever 221 having a .slot 228 at its lower end for receiving a pin 229' projecting from the lower end of the toggle lever 224 and, at its upper end, said lever 221 is joined to the lower stationary pin 22| by a coil spring 230. As the lever 224 is rocked from one position to another by successive downward movements of the arm 222 and consequent engagement of the head 223 with one or the other of the extensions 225, the pin 229 will swing the lever 221 about its pivotal connection with the head 223 and thereby activate the spring 230 so that upon release of the push button 2l9, the plunger extension 220 and the parts connected thereto will be restored upwardly and be ready for the next depression of said button which will efiect a reversal of the rocking movement of the lever 224 and, consequently, of the shaft 2l6 to open or close the contacts of the switch 206. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the manually operable switch is actuated tostart the machine, the-lever 224 will be shifted to turn the shaft H6 in a direction which will close the switch contacts 206, and when the machine is automatically stopped, the

position of the lever 224 will be reversed so that the next operation of said manual switch will again start the machine.

' At the time that the machine is automatically stopped by the operation of the trip arm 2H by one of the cams 201, all similar cams following the first named one which have passed the sensing position before the machine is stopped will have been selected and held in operative position by reason of the non-appearance of a card at said position. Therefore, if the push button 2l9 were depressed and instantly released to again start the machine, the next cam 201 following the one which effected the automatic stopping of the machine, would also trip the arm 2 and again stop the machine, and a similar action would take place each time the button2l9 would be so operated until all the selected cams 201 have passed the trip arm 2 and been restored by the stationary cam I60. To overcome this condition, it is only necessary to hold the button 2l9 depressed for a short intervalof suflicient dura-' tion to permit all the selected cams 201 to pass the trip arm 2| I, whereupon, with the cards feeding normally to the sensing position, the machine will continue to run.

The mechanism for automatically stopping the machine when a predetermined maximum number of cards have entered any one of the pockets 34, will now be described. This mechanism is controlled from the shaft of the timing unit in such manner that when a pocket becomes filled with cards the control shaft 216 will be rocked in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 to open the switch contacts 206 and thus stop the machine. To this end, an eccentric 23! is secured on the shaft 90 and engages the upper end of an oscillatory lever 232 to continuously operate the same while the machine is running. At 233, adjacent the lower end of the lever 232, there is pivoted one end of a link 234, the other end of which is provided with a head 234 that abuts against a stop 235 against which it is held, during the running of the machine, by a heavy coil spring 236. Thus, the pivot 233 acts as a fulcrum for the lever 232 untilsuch time when the link 234 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. When this occurs, an arm 231 having a pin 238 in the path of said head 234', is swung in a counter-clockwise direction. and thus turns the shaft 2l5 to open the switch contacts 206, as previously described in connection with the first automatic stop control. During the operation of the machine and while the lever 232 is being oscillated about the fulcrum 233, it reciprocates a lock bar 239 which is suspended from the frame of the machine by links 240 and has one end thereof pivotally connected, at 24!, to the lever 232, adjacent its lower extremity and below the fulcrum 233. A coil spring 242 connecting the lower extremity of the lever 232 with the bar 239 maintains the upper end of said lever in constant engagement with the eccentric 23l. As shown in Fig. 1, said lock bar 239 extends horizontally beneath the pockets 34, and is provided with a flange 243 having a series of spaced slots 244 therein each of which is individual to and located directly below oneof said pockets. The card support 41 in each pocket is provided with a, depending latch or interposer 245 adapted, when the pocket becomes filled and the support therein has been depressed to the dotted line positlon shown in the middle pocket of Fig. 1, to enter the slot 244 beneath said pocket and thus lock the bar 239 against further reciprocation, the entry of said latch 245 into its associated slot occurring when the bar 239 is at the extremity of its right hand movement as viewed in Fig. 1. This locking of the bar prevents the same from completing its return stroke and thereby immediately shifts the fulcrum of the lever 232 from the pivot 233 to the pivot 24!. A slight continued movement'of the lever 232 under the influence of the eccentric 23l now pulls the link 234 to the left (Fig. 2) and, through contact of the head 234 with the pin 238, swings th arm 231 to the dotted line position so that the 'controlshaft 2l'6 will be rocked to open the switch contacts 206 and thus stop the machine drive which cannot be started again by an operation of the manual switch until the cards are extracted from the filled pocket. Upon stopping the drive and extraction of cards from the filled pocket to release the bar 239 by the upward restoration of the support 41 in a well known manner and consequent withdrawal of the latch 245 from its slot 244, the spring 236, which is heavier than the spring 242, will pull the link;

1&4 tci'theleft ztFig. ld-until its headifis en-- ga es :the,.-stop 23.5.. in so doing, .said linirwill also :pull said :locknbar to zthe :left by swinging the lever 232 about the eccentric :23! :as a fulcrurn. This action leaves the arm-231.1111 lthe position of Fig. l, with the switchlcontacts s ill open. Ope a on of themanual switch to again start the machine will now. turn the shaft 215. to clos the .sswi chcontacts-12135 and move the arr-n52 :37 t thepo ition where its; pintddisaeain contiguo 5, 10 the head-12 A for, operation therey when h machine is :to be a ain stopped- Thus, the ful r m of :the lever 2.32 is now re stor d to he pivot 33 ,sozthat the lock bar "239 m y a ain be recin oca 'lw le. the machine is running.

" What is claimed is:

Lin a, card sorter, iaplurality of pockets havins movable supports for-receiving. anahrzed cards, means 110 vfeed cards. to said pockets, a reciproeatory member continuously movable under said pockets while said feeding means isioperating, cooperating means between said supports and reciprocatory member operable, upon entry of a. predetermined numberlof cards into any one of said pockets, to stop reciprocation vof said memher, and means responsive to the stopping of said member to interrupt the operation of said feeding means.

2. In a card sorten a plurality of pockets having movable supports'ior receiving analyzed cards, means to feed cards to saidpockets, a reciproa cater-y member continuouslymovable under said pockets while said feeding :means is operating and having openings therein each associated with one of said pockets, a latch on each support movable into the corresponding opening in said reciprocatory member to stop its reciprocation when the cardson-saidsupport havereached a predetermined number, and means responsive to the stopping of said member to interrupt the operation of said ieeding means.

3. In a card sorter, -a 'plurali-ty'of pockets having movable supports for receiving analyzed cards, means to feed cards to said pockets, a switch for controlling said means, a reciprocator-y member continuously movable under-said pockets while said feeding means is operating, an oscillating lever pivotally connected atone point to said reciprocatory member for operating same,;-e. switch-operating element connected to said switch and to which said lever is pivoted, at a point spaced fromthefirst named-point for oscillation while said reciprocatory member is reciprocated, cooperating means between said supports and reciprocatory member operable, upon entry of a predetermined number of cards into any one of said pockets, to stop said reciprocatory member so that the fulcrum of said lever willbe shifted from the second named point to said-first named point to thereby actuate said switch-operating member to open said switch.

n a c d r e a p ura y JPOQK tS avin o b su or s 'fp rficeivl i a yzed ca ds,

means to ieedcard towa d aid pock s. at m n sha t ext n ingt ansversely to the lin of fe d of s id cards, a timin ni on sa d-shaft conr li t d tr but onof. ards n osa dn ck ts a switch controlling the operation of said shaft, a lock member continuousl movable beneath said p ckets While-said shaft is rotating, means driven by said shaft for so moving said lock member, means on each of saidsuppprts engageable with said lock member, when ,a predetermined number of vcardshave been-deposited on a-sup- 3 5 8 port, for stoppingmovementorsaid lock'me'mber, and means responsive to :the stopping :of said. member to operate said switchxtolstop rotation of said shaft.

.5. In a. card sorter, a plurality of pockets each having a movable support therein for receiving analyzed cards, means to feed cards to said pockets, a member continuously movable while said feeding means is operating, cooperating means betweeneach support and movable mem: ber operable, upon deposit of .a predetermined number .Of cards onto. anyone of said supports, :to stop movement of said member, and means responsive to the stopping of said member to inter-. rupt the operation of said feeding means.

'6. In combination, a plurality of pockets into which cards are selectively sorted, sensing means to which said cards are fed, a plurality of pocket control members arranged in groups 'for success sive cooperation with said sensing means, means to so control said groups, means operated by the appearance of holes in successive cards being sensed to set one of said control members in-ea'ch group in pocket controlling position, means theree after actuated by each set member to open oneof said pockets, a switchcontrolling member in each or said groups, means operatedby the failure or a card to be red to said sensing means for setting the switch controlling member in-any oneofsaid groups, and switch operatin mechanism arranged with respect to said pocket openingmeans so as to be actuated by-the set switch controlling member in any group only after all set pocket control members in preceding groups have-become effective to actuate said pocket opening means.

7. In combination, a plurality-of pocketsintowhich cards are selectively sorted, sensing means tdwhich said cards are fed, a rotatable timing unit controlling the distribution of cards into said pockets and comprising a plurality of pocket-and switch control members arranged in groups circumferentially around saidunit with one switch control member in each of saidgroups, means to rotate said unit to successively associate .said groups with said sensing means, means operated by the sensing of holes in cards to set a pocket control member in each group, means thereafter actuated byeac-h set member to. open one of said pockets to receive a sensed card, means operated by the absence of a card at saidsensing means to. set the switch control member in the group thenin association with saidsensing means, and switch operating means arranged with respect to said pocket opening means so as to be actuated by the last named control member only after all se pock nt o members n thegroups preceding the last named group have acuated said pooket opening means.

8. In combination, a plurality of pockets into which {Cards areselectively sorted, sensing means to which said cards are fed, a rotatable timin unit controlling the distribution of'cards into said pockets and comprising a plurality of pocket and switch control members arranged in groups coircu -nferentially around said unit with oneswitch control member in each of said groups, means to rotate said unit to successively associate said groups with said sensing means, means operated by 1 se sin rQflhQl s i cards to set .a control member in each group, an endless, conveyor movable over said pockets for. receiving sensed cards from said sensing, means, mechanism successively o e ated by thes c n rol mcmbersinthe vars 2 .5 g oups to en saidrocketstoreceive-the cards on said conveyor, means operated by the absence of a card at said sensing means to set the switch control member in the group then in association with said sensing means, and switch operating means arranged with respect to said pocket opening mechanism so as to be actuated by the last named control member only after all cards on said conveyor have been deposited into said pockets.

9. In combination, a card sensing means, a plurality of pockets into which cards are sorted under control of said sensing means, a shaft, a timing unit rotatable about said shaft and including a plurality of :pocket and switch control members arranged in groups with one switch control member in each group and all the members of each group being arranged side by side along said shaft and radially movable relative thereto to positions of selection, means to so move said members, means controlled by said sensing means to select one pocket control member in each group as holes in successive cards are sensed, means controlled by each selected member for opening one of said pockets, means operated by the absence of a card at said sensing station to select the switch control member of one of said groups, and switch operating means arranged with respect to said pocket opening means so as to be actuated by the selection of said switch control member only after all other selected pocket control members have opened their pockets.

10. In combination, a plurality of pockets into which cards are selectively sorted, sensing means to which said cards are fed, a rotatable timing unit controlling the distribution of cards into said pockets and comprising a plurality f pocket and switch control members arranged in groups circumferentially around said unit with one switch control member in each of said groups, means to rotate said unit to successively associate said groups with said sensing means, means operated by the sensing of holes in cards to set a pocket control member in each group, a group of trip devices also arranged circumferentially about said timing unit and with respect to which said unit is rotatable, said devices being operable by the set pocket control members in the various groups, means controlled by the operation of said trip devices for opening said pockets, means operated by the absence of a card [at said sensing means to set the switch control member in the group then in association with said sensing means, another trip device included in said group of devices and arranged last in the order of their circumferential succession with respect to the direction of rotation of said timing unit and operated by said set switch control member after all preceding set pocket control members have actuated the first named trip devices, and switching means actuated by the operation of said other trip device.

ANDREW G. SEIPOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,310,433 Powers July 22, 1919 1,432,345 Lasker Oct. 17, 1922 1,485,861 Lasker Mar. 4, 1924 1,835,382 Cunningham Dec. 8, 1931 

